Mechanical loader for muzzle-loading mortars



Oct. 13, 1931. L. M. M BRIDE MECHANICAL LOADER FOR MUZZLE LOADING MORTARS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15. 1930 -MZEEM m m as.

LEW 6 M. M1: BRIDE.

INVENTOR.

)ZKQ vn HM M A TTORNEYS Oct 13, 1931. -M. MCBRIDE MECHANICAL LOADER FOR MUZZLE LOADING IIOR'IARS Filed Jan. 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LEW/ M. M BRIDE Q INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 13, 1931 Mrs! ,STIATES A ENT; OFFICE Application filed. January 15, 1930. Serial No. 420,991.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OITMARGH 3, 1883, AS AIQIENDED APRIL 30, .1928; 37d 0. 6. 757) This invention described herein may be Previous to this time 1n weapons of this character it has been customary to manually load a projectile in the muzzle of a barrel. A propellant charge has generally been attached to or contained'in the base of a shell, adapted to be fired by a primer on impact with a firing pin in the'base of a barrel. I

It Will be apparent that-this method of firing weapons of this character, exposes personnel operating the same to the flash of the propellant charge, and also to the danger of being struck by the shell on discharge if inadvertently in the line of fire.

It will of course be apparent that-the efficiency of'a weapon is greatly reduced by manual operation and particularly} in. firing muzzle loading pieces, where accurate placing of the base of a shell in the muzzle is required which reduces the rapidity of fire. Alsoa deficiency in tactical requirements arises, in-

asmuch as the crew firing the weapon are necessarily exposed to enemy fire and weapons of this character which are found to possess material advantage in warfare, are not adaptable for operation within enclosures such as a tank or armored vehicle or under similar conditions. I a

An object of this invention is to provide a mechanical loader for mu zzle loading mortars. 7

Another obj ect of this invention is to provide a muzzle loading mortar which may be operated without danger of personnel comingin the line of fire. 1

Another object of this invention is to provide a muzzle loading mortarwhich may be operated without exposing the crew attend ing the same to enemy fire. 7

Still another object of this invention is to provide a muzzle loading mortar which may be operated from within an enclosure such as a tank.

subject ,of illustration.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanical loader for a muzzle loading mortar in which-loading of a shell is positively prevented until after ejection of: '1

the projectile previously loaded.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fnount for a muzzle loading mortar preferably having the mechanical loader attached thereto. 1

Iaim to overcome the more or less obvious disadvantages which attend the manual operation of muzzle loading-mortars by providing" a mechanical loader which consists in general of a mechanical loading projectile inthe muzzle operated from the base of the piece,

thus obviating the possibility of any of the personnel operating the same coming within the line of fire or being exposed to enemy fire, and making possible operation from within enclosures, at. the same time. providing fora much greater rapidity of firing than has heretofore been possible; 1

With these and other objects in view which may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several nec essary elements comprising 'my invention, maybe variedin construction, proportions and arrangement, without "departing fromv thespiritand scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical efl'ect, without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular constructions, which for the purpose of explanation, have been made the In the drawings forming a part of this specification Figure 1 is a side elevatio nal view of a mechanical loader forming the subject matter of this invention shown mounted on a small mortar, adaptable for use either in the field er in an enclosure.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the loader I shown detached from a mortar barrel.

Figure 3' is a side elevational view of the I I loader shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a front view of the muzzle yoke.

Figure 5 is a rear view of the-end of the shell carriage.

Figure 6 is a front view of the forward clamp taken online 66 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a front view of the middle clamp taken on line 7-7 of Figure 2 lookin in the direction of the arrows.

. Figure 8 is a front view'of the upper half of the rear clamp taken on line 88 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is an end view of the safety lock showing in detail the same.

Referring. more particularly by numerals to the drawings in which the same and similar elements are designated by like symhols of reference throughout, and more especially to Figure 1, the mechanical loading device is shown attached to the barrel of a muzzle loading mortar 1.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that while the mechanical loader is describedherein as adaptable to a small mortar intended particularly for mounting in enclosures or on vehicles, that the same is intended for application with like advantage on other mortars of various types and mounts such, for example, as the baseplate and bypo'd,

mounting of the 3 and 4" Stokes mortars, the 4.2" chemical mortar, or mortars of other calibers and mounts, such as wheeled and pack mounts of any other characters The mortar barrel 1, as shown in Figure 1, is supported by a swivel mounting comprising a clamp 2 mounted on a suitable support and connected with an elevating screw 4 through an angle swivel arm 3. The swivel arm 3 is supported between integral lugs 5 and-6 formed on the clamp 2 and is adapted to be held in position by a swivel pin 7. The pin 7 is designed to permit the mortar to be swung laterally through a wide angle for traversing, but is secured by the clamp lugs 5 and 6 against vertical motion, which is accomplished through the elevating screw 4, by manipulating the same.

The mortar barrel 1 is attached to the swivel mounting by a bolted split clamp 8 pivoted on the arm 3 thereof, by a pin 9. An additional clamp 10 mounted on the butt. of the barrel is pivoted to the rear end of the elevating screw 4 by a pin 11, the forward end of the elevating screw being pivoted to the swivel arm 3 by a pin 12.

The elevating screw 4 comprises aligned double-threaded right and left hand screws connected by a hand nut which it will be apparent, when turned operates to increase or decrease the length of the elevating screw thereby depressing or elevating the mortar barrel 1 in a vertical plane, about the pivot pin 9.

The mechanical loader forming the subje'ct matter of this invention, referring in adlip 18 fitted to the underside of the forward ,eration of the carrierupon the rails13 and 14.

dition to Figures 2 and 3, is mounted on the top of the barrel 1 through connecting clamps shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8; to be hereinafter more fully described.

The mechanical loader, as shown in Figure 2, comprises a plurality of T-shaped slide rails 13 and 14 rigidly secured to the tops of the clamps, shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, which latter members are securely clamped to the mortar barrel 1, as shown in Figure 1. The forward ends of the slide rails which are positioned in parallel above and in alignment with the mortar barrel 1, are attached to a muzzle yoke 15, as shown in Figure 4 and to be hereinafter more fully described. The slide rails 13 and 14, which as previously remarked comprises two T-bars arranged in parallel throughout the length of the same, are cut away on the inside adjacent the muzzle of the barrel 1,as shown at 16.

A shell carrier frame 17, as shown in Figure 2, is slidably mounted on the rails 13 and 14. The frame 17 is open at the top and bottom except that the same is provided with a end having upwardly extending flangesat the end bolted to the sides of the carrier frame. A handle 19 is attached to the rear end of the frame 17 to provide for manual op- The outside lower edge of the carrier, as shown in Figure 8, is provided with lugs 20 and 21 preferably formed integral therewith on each side, adapted to engage the outer flanges of the T-bar rails 13 and 14 thereby slidably securing the carrier frame thereon.

The carrier 17 is adapted to receive a shell as indicated at 22 in Figures 2 and 3, the body thereof resting directly on the slide rails 13 and 14 with the fuse or nose over the lip or above the lip 18 fixed on the forward end of the carrier. It will thus be seen by pushing the handle 19 that the shell may be conducted up the slide rails 13 and 14 by reason of being moved in the carrier 17.

The muzzle yoke 15 shown connected to the ends of the slide rails in Figures 2 and 3 comprises, as shown in Figure 4, a semi-circular band 23, turned out at the end adapted to have angle supports 24 and 25 bolted thereon. The angle supports are formed integral with a tie-bar 26, which is adapted to be bolted on the extreme ends of the cutaway sections of the T-bar slide rails 13 and 14.

The band 23 is adapted to seat the front end of a receiving pan 27 forming an extension of the mortar barrel 1, the top portion being cut away to prov'de for dropping of a projectile in thecarrier thereon when the projectile falls through the cutaway portions of the rails 13 and 14. The muzzle yoke assembly is adapted to support the slide rails in a definite relation to the receiver 27, to prevent a spreading of the same at the outer extremity thereof and. also to serve as a stop to further 1 limit the carrier 17. The loader, as previously remarked, is fixed on the forward portion of the barrel 1 by the clamp-shown in Figure 6 which comprises a strap 28 fixed to the rails 13 and 14 by a tie-bolt 29, the rails being maintained parallel by a spacer fitted over the bolt 29 therebetween. u

The loader as hereinbefore stated is attached to the central portion of the. barrel 1 by a split strap 31 bolted together at the bottom and connected at the top to the slide rails 13 and 14 by a tie-bolt.32, the alignment of the rails being maintained by a spacer 33 fitted over the bolt therebetween. The top portion of the split clamp 8 adapted to secure the loader on the rear portion of the barrel 1 in conjunction with the other portion, is formed with spaced projections for receiving the slide rails 13 and 14 which are adapted to be fixed thereto screws 34 and 35.

The barrel 1, as previousl remarked, is provided with the semi-cylindi'ical extension or pan 27 at the muzzle extremity which is adapted to receive a projectile 22. The receiver 27, as hereinbefore stated, may consist of cutaway sections of a mortar barrel, whereby the same is formed integral therewith, as

shown, or it may consist of a separate piece suitably formed and attached to the barrel in 30 any convenient" manner.

' desired to operate the loader. a shell such as,

The operation of the mechanical loader will be readily understood with first having reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3. When it is 22 is placed in the frame 17, the latter having been positioned to the rear on the track formed by the rails 13 and 14. The carriage frame 17 encompassing the projectile 21 is then pushed forward and upward onthe track by actuation of the handle 19. 'When the rear or base portion of the projectile reaches the cutaway section 16=of the slide" rails 13 and 14, the base portion of the shell is adapted to drop between the rails into the receiver 27,- the nose or fuse end of the shell continuing to rest in the carrier by reason of the same engaging the lip 18 positioned in the P forward end of the carrier frame.

. As the barrel of a weapon of this character is usually placed at an angle of over fortyfive degrees, a shell dropping into the receiver will be caused to slide downward along the bottom thereof into the muzzle of the barrel by reasonrof the force of gravity. In sliding down the receiver the fuse end or nose of the shell will fall off thelip 18 thus positioning the projectile for sliding into the muzzle of the barrel.

The projectile is fired from the mortar by the action of a propellant charge incorporated on a sleeve adapted to receive a cartridge containing the same. Thesleeve may be attached to the rear of the 'p rojectile as shown at 36 in Figure 1. ,It is of course apparent that the charge may be placed in a firing of separate compartment of the base of the shell, or any other means resorted to for the firing of the shell. In the usual practice, the propellant charge is in train'with a primer so located that it. will impact with a fixed firing pin in the base of the mortar barrel so that the. shell will be fired and ejected from' .the muzzleyoke 15 irrespective, of the position of the shell carrier 17.

, Upon release of the shell from the carrier into the receiver the same is adapted to be returned to its rearward position to receive another projectile. It will thus be seen that the firing of successive shells may be continued as rapidly as it is possible to manipulate the carrier.

I have provided a the muzzle of a barrel previous to the ejection of the preceding projectile either' through too rapid loading or misfiring. To accomplish this end a device is provided to lock the shell carrier in a rearward position previous to the ejection from the muzzle of a shell which has been loaded, further movement of the carrier for successive loading being dependent on shock incident to the the projectile contained in the barrel. i

The lock as it will be seen with reference to Figures 3 and 9'comprises a lock plate 40 rigidly attached to the slide rail 13. An arm 42 having a weight 43 attached to the end thereof and adjustably held'in place by a means to prevent the possibility of loading a successive shell into set screw .44, .is pivoted to the lock plate through a pin 41. A weight'arm 42 is formed with a lateral extension carrying a detent 45, and a pawl stop 46 adapted to engage a pawl 47 pivoted on the plate by a e in 48. The forward swing of the arm 42 is restricted by a pin 49 seatedin the plate and movement of the same is constrained by a tension spring 50.

' Similarly movement of the pawl 47 is restrainedby a tension spring 51. A latch 53 is attached to the carrier frame 17 on a support 52 carried thereby. Thelatch 53 001K1- prises a jaw '54 and an arm-55 pivoted on the support by a pin 56. ovement of the latch is constfalned by a tension spring 57 and the motion thereof limited by a pin 59. The

arm 55 and the latch 53 is provided with'a recess shoulder on its .inner' side for permitting movement of the pawl 47 when in.

raised position.

ent. The carrier 17 is withdrawn from" its forward position as shown in Figure 1 to its QThegoperation of thelocl will be apparrearward loading position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The recess shoulder on the inside of the latch arm 55 is adapted to ride over the upper end of the pawl 47. Concomitantly with this operation the latch jaw 54 is adapted to engage the upward end of the pawl to rotate the same so that the lower end thereof will engage in thefdetent 45, as shown in Figure 3. Upon any further rearward movement of the carrier 17, the latch arm 55 will engage against the pin 58 which is mounted on the lock plate and raise the latch jaw 54 out of engagement with the pawl 47. I

' lVhen the mechanism constituting the lock arrangement is thus positioned the forward movement of the carrier 17 will cause the jaw of the latch arm 55 to engage against the pawl 47 which is held in the detent 45. In this manner the carrier 17 will be positively locked in the rear or loading position. It will of course be apparent that upon firing the shell from the mortar, that the barrel, although rigidly mounted, will re; coil to a certain extent. The weight arm 42 due to the inertia of the weight 43 will thus tend to swing about the pivot 41 and against the pin- 49.. In this manner the pawl 47 will be released from the detent 45 and drawn against the stop 46 by the spring 51. In this, position the latch arm will be disengaged preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth, by way of illustration, as it itapparent that many changes and varia tions may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A muzzle loading weapon comprising, a

barrel, means on the end of the barrel for receiving a projectile and means associated with the rear of the weapon and outside thereof to drop the projectile on the receiving means.

2. A method of operating muzzle loading weapons comprising, mechanically carrying the projectile from the rear of a weapon and outside thereof, pastthe muzzle, dropping the same therein, by gravity feed.-

3. A method of operating muzzle loading weapons comprising, loading a projectile on the rear end outside of the weapon, mechanically carrying 'the projectile to the muzzle thereof and automatically dropping the same therein by gravity feed.

4. A muzzle loading weapon comprising, a barrel, a track including a plurality of rails extending on each side along and above the barrel and past the muzzle thereof, and means from the. pawl 47 and the Shell Carrier 17 to convey a projectile up the-track and drop will be moved forward for loading a sucoessive shell without obstruction.

In loading the initial round, or when otherwise desired, the lock may be released by.

manually moving the weight arm 42, thus unlocking the mechanism in the same manner as previously described. It will be appreciated that other means of locking the carrier,

or otherwise preventing loading before firing of a preceding round, may be provided in various ways. For example,'advantage may be taken of the travel of the projectile by pressure of the gas resulting from firing of the propellant charge as well as by recoil as provided herein.

Thus it will be understood that theinvention is in nowise limited to the particular type of lock shown, as this may be subject to modification as previously explained with reference to mounting and the character of propellant charge employed, the invention residing primarily in a mechanical loader for nmuzzle loading mortars.

There is accomplished from this invention" a: mechanical loader for muzzle loading mortars which may be operated without danger V I of personnel coming within the line of 'fire or exposing themselves to enemy fire, and which maybe operated from within an enclosure, with provision for'eflicient mounting and insurance against inadvertent loadmg. 7

While. I, have shown and described the the same in the muzzle of the weapon.

5. A muzzle loading weapon'comprising, a barrel, a track including a pluralityof rails extending on each side along and above the barrel, and past the muzzle thereof and means to place a projectile at the bottom of the track, and means to convey the projectile up the track into the muzzle of the weapon.

6. A muzzle loading weapon comprising, a barrel, a track including a plurality of rails on each side along and above the barrel past the muzzle thereof, a carriage slidably mounted on the track and means to convey a projectile placed in the carriage upv the track and drop the same in the muzzle of the weapon.

7. A muzzle loading weapon comprisinga barrel, a track including aplurality of rails extending on each side along and above the barrel, and past the muzzle thereof, a carriage slidably mounted on the track, a receiver below the track beyondtthe muzzle of the weapon, and means to convey a projectile placed in the carriage upon the track and drop the same on the receiver. f

8. A muzzle weapon comprising, a barrel, a track including a plurality of rails extending on each side along and above the barrel, and past the muzzle thereof, "the carriage slidably mounted on the track, a receiver below the track beyond the muzzle of a weapon, in alignment with and conforming with'the shape of the lower portion of the into the weapon.

barrel, and means to convey a projectile placed'in the carriage up the track and drop- .the barrel, being cutaway,. and means to convey a projectile placed in the carriage, up the track and drop the same onto the receiver for gravity feed into the barrel,

10. A muzzle loading weapon comprising, a barrel, a track for supporting a projectile including a plurality of rails extending on each side along and above the barrel, and past the muzzle thereof, a receiver forming an extension of the lower'portion of the barrel below the track, cutaway portions in the ends of the rails constituting the track, above the rec'eiver, for dropping the projectile, and means to convey a projectile up the track and drop the same through the cutaway portion of the rails onto the receiver for gravity feed into the barrel.

11. A muzzle loading weapon comprising, a barrel, a track for supporting a projectile including a plurality of rails extending on each side along'and above the barrel and past the muzzle thereof, a receiver forming w an extension of the lower portion of the,

barrel, below the track, cutaway portions in the ends of the rails constituting the track above'the receiver, for dropping the projectile, a carriage slidably mounted on the track, and means to convey a projectile .placed in the carriage up the track and drop.

the same through the cutaway portion in the rails onto the receiver for gravity feed 12. A muzzle loading weapon comprising, a barrel, a track for supporting a. projectile including a plurality of rails extending on each side along and above the barrel and past the muzzle thereof, a receiver forming past the muzzle thereof, areceiver forming an extension of the lower portion of the b'a rrel, below the track, cutaway' portions m an extension of the lower portion of the barrel, below the track, cutaway portions in the ends of the rails constituting the track 7 above the receiver, for dropping the projecloading of the i above the receiver, for dropping the'projectile, a carriage slidably mounted ona track, means to convey a projectile placed in the carriage up the track, a lip sitioned in the forward portion of the carriage whereby the nose of the projectile may be supported in the rear end of the same first dropping through the cutaway portions in the rails on to the receiver for subsequent gravity feed of the projectile into the barrel.

14.-A muzzle loading weapon having a mechanical loader comprising, a track, a carriage operating on the track forcarrying a projectile from the rear of the weapon to the muzzle for loading, and means to prevent movement of the carriage prior to the ejection of a projectile previously loaded.

15. A muzzle loading weapon having a mechanical loader comprising, a track, a carriage operating on the track for carrying a projectile from the rear of the weapon to the muzzle for loading, and means dependent on the firing of the projectile to prevent movement of the carriage. v j

16," A muzzle loading weapon having a mechanical loader comprising, a track, a car.-

riage operating on the track for carrying a projectile from the rear of the weapon to the muzzle for loading, and means operating on the rear. of the carriage toprevent forward. movement thereof for successive loading, dependent on the firing ofa projectile reviously loadedr 17. muzzle loading weapon having a mechanical loader comprising, a track, a carriage operating on the track for carrying a projectile from the rear of a weapon to the muzzle for loading, a latch pivoted on the carriage and a pawl and weight arm pivoted on the side of the track, thelatch being adaptedto lock the carriage against subsequent forward movement after return on rojectile, firing of the pro-' jectile loading ei'n latch by unlocking of the pawl through movement of the weight arm to permit load-' ing of another projectile.

Intestimony whereof I afiix my signature.

- LEWIS. M. MCBRIDE.

tile, a carriage, slidably mountedon a. track,

means to. convey a projectile placed in the carriage up the track and drop the rear end of the same throughthe cutaway portions in the rails onto the receiver for gravity feed of the entire projectile into the weapon.

13. A muzzle loading weapon comprising, a barrel, a track for supporting a projectile including a plurality vof rails extending on each side along and above ,'the barrel and the ends-of the rails constituting the track adapted to release the 

